Preliminary Market Engagement – Waste Recycling Baler Infrastructure Modifications and Additional Cardboard Baler Installation at Silent Valley Waste Transfer Station

Procurement reference

PME07/2026 - SVBALER

Procurement description

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement of waste infrastructure modifications at its Silent Valley Waste Transfer Station.

The Council is reviewing its existing waste management operations in preparation for forthcoming Welsh legislative requirements that will require local authorities to separately collect and process flexible plastics by April 2027. To support compliance and improve operational efficiency, the Council is considering alterations to its current baling arrangements and seeks input from suitably experienced suppliers and manufacturers.

The proposed project includes:

- Assessment of the existing Godswill baler installation.

- Determination of the technical feasibility of converting the existing baler from a left-hand discharge configuration to a right-hand discharge arrangement.

- Identification of any structural, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical or operational constraints associated with such modifications.

- Provision of indicative capital, installation and commissioning costs.

- Assessment of operational impacts including health and safety, maintenance and workflow considerations.

- Identification of alternative solutions if modification of the existing equipment is not considered viable.

- Recommendations for design improvements, operational enhancements and future-proofing measures to accommodate increasing waste segregation requirements, including flexible plastics processing.

The Council is also exploring options for the supply and installation of an additional dedicated cardboard baler to increase processing capacity, reduce overtime requirements and improve operational efficiency. The intention is that the existing baler may be repurposed for flexible plastics and other waste streams while a separate baler is dedicated to cardboard processing.

Main category

Goods

Delivery regions

• UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

Total value (estimated)

999999.99 GBP Excluding VAT

1200000.00 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 December 2026, 00:00AM to 31 March 2027, 23:59PM

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 42000000 - Industrial machinery

Delivery regions

• UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 December 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2027, 23:59PM

Engagement process description

This market engagement does not form part of any formal procurement process and does not commit the Council to commence any procurement or award any contract.

The Council anticipates using information gathered through this engagement to develop a future procurement opportunity for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of waste baling infrastructure improvements.

The final scope, lot structure, procurement route and contract value have not yet been determined.

The Council wishes to engage with the market to:

- Understand available technologies and equipment options.

- Assess whether modification of the existing baler represents a practical and value-for-money solution.

- Identify innovative approaches to handling cardboard and flexible plastics.

- Establish likely project costs, implementation timescales and delivery risks.

- Inform the development of a future technical specification and procurement strategy.

- Understand supplier capability and market capacity.

Site Information

The existing installation is located at:

Silent Valley Waste Transfer Station

Beechwood House

Cwm

Ebbw Vale

NP23 6PZ

Interested suppliers will be invited to attend a site visit Monday 20th July to Thursday 23rd July 2026, to review the existing equipment layout, operational constraints and surrounding infrastructure.

Site visits can be arranged in consultation with:

Mr Robert Lewis, Team Leader, Waste Strategy & Prevention

email: robert.lewis@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

Following the pre-arranged site visit, the Council would welcome responses covering:

- Experience of modifying existing balers, including discharge reconfiguration projects.

- Experience of installing cardboard balers within operational waste transfer stations.

- Indicative project costs.

- Typical programme durations.

- Key technical risks and mitigation measures.

- Space, power supply, structural or access considerations.

- Recommended equipment and technology solutions.

- Opportunities to improve throughput, efficiency and safety.

- Examples of similar projects undertaken for local authorities or waste operators.

- Any environmental or sustainability benefits associated with proposed solutions.

Responses should include company details, relevant experience and any supporting technical information considered beneficial to the Council's requirements and be submitted by 17th August 2026.

Participation in this preliminary market engagement is voluntary. Any information provided by suppliers may be used by the Council solely for the purpose of informing future procurement activity. Participation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement exercise.

The Council reserves the right not to proceed with any future procurement.

Due date

23 July 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

01 September 2026